'''A.''' Such arrangements are more common in countries, such as Sweden or Australia, where they enable library service in thinly populated areas. Dr, Alan Bundy in his [http://www.library.unisa.edu.au/about/papers/jointuse.pdf Joint-use libraries - the ultimate form of cooperation (PDF)] (2003) sets the rate at 40 percent of libraries in Sweden. In the U.S., the number is much lower.

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'''A.''' Such arrangements are more common in countries, such as Sweden or Australia, where they enable library service in thinly populated areas. Dr. Alan Bundy in his [http://arrow.unisa.edu.au:8081/1959.8/40627 Joint-use libraries - the ultimate form of cooperation] (2003) sets the rate at 40 percent of libraries in Sweden. In the U.S., the number is much lower.

Key to the success seems to be a well-planned agreement, covering issues as enumerated in [http://www.ccla.lib.fl.us/docs/reports/joint_use.pdf Report of The Standing Committee on Joint-Use Libraries (PDF)], prepared January 30, 1996, at Florida's College Center for Library Automation. The Bundy article also has a checklist, as do the many other references on [[Joint-Use|joint use libraries]] we've gathered for the [http://www.ala.org/library/fact20.html ALA Library Fact Sheet 20 - Joint-Use Libraries: A Bibliography].

Key to the success seems to be a well-planned agreement, covering issues as enumerated in [http://www.ccla.lib.fl.us/docs/reports/joint_use.pdf Report of The Standing Committee on Joint-Use Libraries (PDF)], prepared January 30, 1996, at Florida's College Center for Library Automation. The Bundy article also has a checklist, as do the many other references on [[Joint-Use|joint use libraries]] we've gathered for the [http://www.ala.org/library/fact20.html ALA Library Fact Sheet 20 - Joint-Use Libraries: A Bibliography].

Revision as of 12:01, 10 June 2010

Q. Our community, like many others, is tightening its fiscal belt. As a result, we are looking at the idea of a joint-use library - one where other community services could also be offered under the library roof. How common are such arrangements?

A. Such arrangements are more common in countries, such as Sweden or Australia, where they enable library service in thinly populated areas. Dr. Alan Bundy in his Joint-use libraries - the ultimate form of cooperation (2003) sets the rate at 40 percent of libraries in Sweden. In the U.S., the number is much lower.